David Shelley makes 'top 100 LGBT leaders' list

David Shelley, c.e.o. designate of Hachette UK, has been named on a list of leading LGBT+ executives compiled by professional membership organisation OUTstanding and published in the FT.

Shelley, currently c.e.o. Orion and Little, Brown and c.e.o. of Hachette UK from January 2018, took the number 59 spot and is the second senior executive from Hachette UK to be named in the list after outgoing c.e.o. Tim Hely Hutchinson made the list last year in 2016. 

Shelley leads Hachette UK's inclusion initiative, Changing the Story, which he has done since its inception in 2015, designed to make the organisation and the books they publish more inclusive and diverse. In 2017, internally and externally Hachette UK has been celebrating the anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality by highlighting and repromoting the LGBT+ authors they publish, while Shelley has also spoken at industry conferences about the importance of welcoming all people into the industry from a wide variety of backgrounds. Shelley is also a strong supporter of LGBT+ focused organisations such as Stonewall.

The list, which recognises both "LGBT future leaders and straight ally executives", is the product of a partnership between OUTstanding and the Financial Times, with nominations coming from peers and colleagues, then reviewed by the OUTstanding judging panel. Judges this year included Barclays UK's chief executive Ashok Vaswani and Getty Images' chief executive Dawn Airey, with each nominee was scored on the seniority and influence of their role, their impact on LGBT+ inclusion inside and outside the workplace and their business achievements. 

Shelley said: “I am really pleased that Hachette has been represented for a second year running in this list. The OUTStanding list is an important way of flagging the need for a diverse and inclusive workforce, and it is an aim I will be hugely committed to in my new role at Hachette.”

Suki Sandhu, founder and c.e.o. of OUTstanding, which organisation compiles the list, said: “These lists exist to challenge the assumption you cannot be out and successful in business, and to highlight the importance of role models in inspiring the next generation of business leaders. By recognising and celebrating those who are leading the charge, the lists demonstrate how far the quest for workplace equality has come. But there is always more to be done. Big business and the public sector have the power and influence to promote LGBT+ inclusion more widely, paving the way for real societal change around the world.”